Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions and Boliden’s Kevitsa mine have signed a collaboration agreement to test and develop Sandvik’s battery-electric concept surface drill rig in order to gain real-world data on its operation and performance.

Boliden Kevitsa, a multi-metal open-pit mine in Sodankylä, Northern Finland, is known for efforts to minimise environmental impact while maximising the energy efficiency of the operation. The mine invests constantly in automation, electrification and remote-control systems, all standout features of the Sandvik battery-electric concept surface drill rig.

The modern infrastructure at Kevitsa makes it an ideal field-testing lab for the new concept drill rig, which Sandvik introduced in November 2023. The lessons learned jointly during the testing period will be used to further develop the concept machine. The harsh Arctic conditions and Kevitsa’s strict mining standards will ensure a demanding trial environment for the concept rig’s productivity, safety and sustainability features.

“Sandvik’s battery-electric concept surface drill rig is a testament to our mission to gear our value chain towards net zero emissions,” Lauri Laihanen, Vice President, R&D, Surface Drilling, Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions, said. “Most of the emissions generated in the Sandvik value chain come from the use of our products, so minimising these emissions is a priority that will contribute both to the sustainability of the end-products and global sustainability efforts overall.”

The battery-electric concept surface drill rig combines the flexibility of battery operation with the endurance of a power cable. The battery pack, which lasts for up to one hour of drilling or up to seven hours of tramming, is primarily intended for tramming and drilling individual holes, while the bulk of production relies on more than 180 m of tethered cable.

In addition to increased freedom of movement and flexibility, the benefits of battery operation also include higher utilization rates because the rig can immediately start drilling at a new location while the cable is still being set up. The more manageable tether, thanks to its simple setup with automatic tightening and smaller cable diameter, serves to make the cable operation as effortless as possible.